Why Do We Educate? Voices from the Conversation

Why Do We Educate? Voices from the Conversation is a unique collection of contemporary writing about the purposes of education in today’s society. It gives expression to the voices of more than 90 public and private figures through written essays, speeches, fiction, op-ed pieces, cartoons, and blogs. These are the voices of artists, entertainers, business executives, scientists, educators, government and civic leaders, religious and spiritual leaders, and members of the media. Through these voices is found expression of a number of educational purposes including the development of the individual, the promotion of the “good” society, and the advancement of humanity. Also through them is found expression of education as a means of cultivation and stewardship of democratic values and processes. The purpose of this book is to document the contemporary conversation about why we educate in democratic society and, through the voices represented in the book, provoke and promote the conversation further. This book is the second volume of the 107th yearbook of the National Society for the Study of Education. The first volume, Why Do We Educate? Renewing the Conversation, is a complementary collection of contemporary scholarly writing on the question.